Planning Applications Wales

“Planning Applications Wales”, acts as a “front end” to the planning application process in Wales, providing a consistent single form for planning applications and associated consents with built-in guidance and help, whilst also transferring the application information directly to the variety of ICT systems in use by Welsh Local Planning Authorities (“LPAs”).

.

The client requires a public facing online service, which can:

1. Develop, host and manage a fully bilingual suite of online planning application forms, which can be used to submit planning application information and associated electronic supporting documents to any LPA ICT system in Wales, by using existing XML data fields and interfaces currently in use by LPAs;

2. Use inline technical validation (such as field type restriction and mandatory requirement for attachments subject to scenarios, or answering certain questions) to enable smoother submission and validation of applications;

3. Host and manage versions of each application form “scenario” (there are currently 35) which can be downloaded (either blank or partially completed) to submit a planning application to a LPA in hard copy;

4. Supply printable versions of completed forms to LPAs, so that they can be stored, published on the LPA’s website or forwarded to stakeholders;

5. Host and manage accessible guidance and advice about the use of the planning application platform, as part of the online service, targeted at ley or novice users of the planning system; and

6.Provide a bilingual customer support service to assist users with operational queries and front-line support issues relating to the use of the application service, or the downloading of applications by LPAs.

.

Minimum requirements include but are not limited to evidence of information security certification and regular system penetration testing, quality assurance certification or equivalent, compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 to Level AA and ability to provide a service in line with the Welsh Language Standards.

.

Subject to approval, the estimated budget for the delivery of the requirement for the initial contract term of 3 years, is up to a maximum of 320,000GBP.